😐A single person spends $1,293 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,150 in Kimberley, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $1,948 in Kimberley, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,374 per month in Playa del Carmen vs $2,747 in Kimberley, rent included.
😐Playa del Carmen costs about 13% more than Kimberley, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Playa del Carmen and Kimberley are more affordable than the global median – Playa del Carmen6% lower, Kimberley16% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Playa del Carmen
Kimberley
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.71MX$198
$12.56R 201
-6.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.59MX$788
$37.73R 603
23.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.65MX$197
$6.11R 97.8
90.67%
Cappuccino
$4.09MX$69.2
$3.21R 51.3
27.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.37MX$23.23
$1.38R 22.09
-0.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83MX$14.09
$1.35R 21.56
-38.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.35MX$56.7
$2.73R 43.69
22.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91MX$117
$2.85R 45.57
142.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Playa del Carmen
Kimberley
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.73MX$29.20
$1.64R 26.17
5.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.26MX$38.21
$1.20R 19.21
88.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MX$29.91
$3.11R 49.70
-43.09%
Eggs
$2.73MX$46.19
$2.95R 47.17
-7.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.18MX$155
$6.80R 109
35.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.92MX$151
$6.26R 100
42.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.60MX$213
$8.85R 142
42.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02MX$51.1
$2.40R 38.37
25.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57MX$26.55
$2.57R 41.16
-38.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.93
$1.78R 28.52
19.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.26MX$38.28
$3.38R 54.0
-33.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00MX$33.88
$1.52R 24.32
31.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.90
$1.54R 24.63
33.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18MX$19.94
$1.36R 21.76
-13.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20MX$20.35
$0.95R 15.22
26.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.63MX$78.4
$3.29R 52.6
40.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.69MX$181
$6.85R 110
56.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.38
$2.36R 37.66
-31.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88MX$48.70
$2.99R 47.79
-3.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Playa del Carmen
Kimberley
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MX$9.69
$1.59R 25.46
-64.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.83MX$504
$34.25R 548
-12.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$92.1
$0.64R 10.31
751.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.70MX$62.6
$0.91R 14.59
306.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.98MX$101
$9.11R 146
-34.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.26
$1.49R 23.84
4.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.3KMX$377.4K
$36.4KR 581.7K
-38.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9KMX$438.7K
$32.7KR 523.0K
-20.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Playa del Carmen
Kimberley
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.1MX$1,507
$109R 1,737
-17.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.04MX$423
$35.86R 574
-30.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.50MX$532
$42.79R 684
-26.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Playa del Carmen
Kimberley
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.8MX$1,146
$23.00R 368
194.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.92MX$489
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.05MX$85.4
$7.37R 118
-31.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Playa del Carmen
Kimberley
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$225MX$3,803
$261R 4,167
-13.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,222MX$71.4K
$5,764R 92.2K
-26.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Playa del Carmen
Kimberley
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.44MX$802
$54.0R 863
-12.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.98MX$760
$34.57R 553
30.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.0MX$1,386
$106R 1,692
-22.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.1MX$1,557
$95.3R 1,524
-3.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Playa del Carmen
Kimberley
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$273R 4,366
291.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405MX$6,852
$341R 5,447
19.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935MX$32.7K
$660R 10.6K
193.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,301MX$22.0K
$981R 15.7K
32.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,995MX$67.5K
$885R 14.2K
351.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,626MX$112.0K
$645R 10.3K
928.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Playa del Carmen
Kimberley
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749MX$12.7K
$970R 15.5K
-22.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.45
11
4.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Playa del Carmen: August 29, 2026
Last update for Kimberley: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Playa del Carmen versus $273 in Kimberley. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 30% higher in Kimberley, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Playa del Carmen versus $38.00 in Kimberley. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $238 – making Kimberley the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Playa del Carmen vs Kimberley: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kimberley cheaper than Playa del Carmen?
Yes – Playa del Carmen is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,940 per month in Playa del Carmen and $1,724 in Kimberley. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kimberley, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Playa del Carmen and in Kimberley?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,293 in Playa del Carmen and $1,150 in Kimberley. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 15% less in Kimberley. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Playa del Carmen or in Kimberley?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kimberley, where all-in costs run around $1,150, than in Playa del Carmen at $1,293. In Kimberley it covers expenses comfortably, while in Playa del Carmen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Playa del Carmen or Kimberley more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kimberley – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kimberley. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Playa del Carmen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Playa del Carmen vs other spots: cost of living compared